Increasing the Capabilities of the Oral Surgery Team With a RN
Abstract
Dental readiness is vital to the U.S. Army. With over 40% of new recruits having acute, active dental disease, the challenge of preparing soldiers for deployment is critical. Oral surgeons make significant contributions to the dental readiness and wellness missions, but their numbers are dwindling. Substituting a RN in the place of a third dental assistant on the oral surgery team is a cost effective way of increasing oral surgeon productivity while improving patient care and safety. Using labor substitution, a RN enables the concept of multiple chairs, a Dental Care Optimization maxim, to become a practical reality. if this argument is accepted, then the United States Army Dental Command (DENCOM) should authorize and fund this new requirement in all of its oral-maxillofacial surgery clinics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA443922
Entities
People
- Dale A. Vegter